belly button jewelry

I received a message from a guy about his friend's navel piercing he was concerned about (for good cause):

Hi Elayne, My friend has had her bellybutton pierced for about 7 months and its Infected and she won't take I out so I was wondering what to do for her?

You could drive her to a high quality piercer, and possibly also a doctor! Fortunately, it looks as though the problem is still localized. But infection can spread to affect a wider area. If that happens, she really should see a doctor.

Based on how it looks, her piercing is going to reject. That reddened appearance form entry to exit is a very bad sign. It indicates that the tissue holding the jewelry in has been affected and is not healthy.

If she wants to try to preserve the piercing she must get the hanging jewelry out of there right away. Hanging or dangling jewelry should never be worn on a healing piercing or one that is experiencing problems. Navel piercings frequently take 6-9 months to heal, and hanging jewelry should be avoided during that entire time.

She should put in high quality, mirror finsih, internally threaded jewelry that fits properly. Also, the bar she's wearing is far too long, and that will cause problems as well, including excess trauma.

Further, she should care for it according to accepted practice:
http://piercingbible.com/piercing-care
and do saline soaks at least twice daily:
http://piercingbible.com/saline-soaks

Even if she does everything I suggest, there still may be no saving it.

I got a message from a woman who had her navel pierced on multiple occasions without success:

Hi,
I wondered if you could help please. I'v now had my belly button peirced 5 times over the years and every time it grows out within a few month. The bar comes right to the surface so there's no longer any skin holdin it in and just a scab. I really don't no why this is happening I look after it well. I have my ears peirced since been a baby and never had any problems. The scar I'm left with is quite big and each time I used to get it peirced behind the scar. I really would like to have this peircing and for it to heal fully which it never has. Please can u advise if there is anything I could do or to just give it up as a bad job :(

Thanks for your time I look forward to your reply.

Did you do anything different to try for a different outcome? Alternate care or jewelry material? If you do things the same way, you can expect the same results.

Was your jewelry high quality with a mirror finish? See photo (of jewelry availble here):